24 Dec 2016

Thank you for a great 2016!

by Gabino Renales, BSWW Deputy vice-president

It’s hard to believe how quickly the last 12 months have gone by, but we have had another beach-soccer-loaded year, with up to 26 events in 16 different countries.

Amongst them, we have had the chance to welcome some new homes to the sport as well as new friends that have confidently embraced the beach soccer ethos and who will stay with us in this coming years. The likes of Sal (Cape Verde), Belgrade (Serbia), Sanxenxo (Spain), Ordos (China) and Cascais (Portugal) for instance.

In 2016, we have also witnessed a European season full of surprise and talking points. Not only did Ukraine claim the Euro Beach Soccer League title for the first time after downing defending champions Portugal in the Superfinal in Catania, but Poland amazed the world by securing a ticket to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017 as well as going all the way and claiming the European crown at the qualifier in Jesolo.

This year we have also seen top-class international women’s beach soccer competitions become a staple part of the calendar. The first Women’s Euro Winners Cup and the maiden Women’s Euro Beach Soccer Cup - Mundialito need to be the first part of a bright future.

To bring an incredible year to a close, we enjoyed a stunning week of beach soccer in mid-December, with two events at two very distant spots in the world.

The CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Nigeria saw Senegal reclaim the African crown while hosts Nigeria followed them to the World Cup and the Copa America Futbol Playa in Santos, where hosts Brazil prevailed in CONMEBOL’s prestigious competition.

Moreover, this year also brought us a new member of the beach soccer family: Barefoot, the Beach Soccer Mag.

This quarterly online magazine will bring beach soccer fans everywhere an unparalleled level of exclusive content, including interviews and pictures, while also offering opportunities to strengthen beach soccer’s relationship with its main stakeholders: players, coaches, referees and, above all, fans.

But allow us to pause for a moment, as all these achievements and positive steps would not have been possible without your support, passion and companionship.

Thank you all.

We want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy 2017, in which we hope you will continue to keep walking by our side!